How to Use Google Translate Offline

This article covers how to download languages (and delete them when you're done) to use Google Translate offline on the official mobile apps for Android and iOS. The desktop version doesn't support offline use.

How to Set Up Google Translate for Offline Use

When you're trying to understand or communicate in a different language, Google Translate is an excellent resource. To use the app when offline, you need to download the languages you want to translate.

Download for:

1. Open the Google Translate app.

2. The language that appears in the top left is the translate from language while the language that appears in the top right is the translate to language.

   Tap the translate from or the translate to language, depending on which one you want to change and/or have downloaded.

3. Look for the language you want from the dropdown list and tap the download arrow to the right of it.

4. A pop-up will appear telling you how much storage you'll need. Tap Download to continue.

   Note that not all languages will have a download button beside them, meaning that they aren't available to download. You'll know that a language has been downloaded if you see a checkmark icon beside it in the dropdown list.

5. Repeat steps three and four for all the languages you want (if there are multiple ones you want to download).

6. Now you can open the Google Translate app whenever you're in an area without an internet connection and set the Translate from or Translate to language as any of the languages you previously downloaded.

   Use the app as you normally would if you were connected to the internet. You'll be able to translate text, photos, handwriting, conversations, and voice—all while you're offline.

How to Delete Languages You've Downloaded

Google Translate language downloads take up a lot of storage space—particularly if you download multiple languages. You may want to delete some of your downloads when you no longer need them to help free up space. Follow these instructions to learn how.

1. Tap Settings in the bottom menu. On Android, you may need to tap the menu in the top left.

2. Tap Offline translation.

3. Tap the trashcan icon to the right of any of your downloaded languages to delete it from your downloads. Depending on the device you're using, after this you may need to confirm you want to delete or remove the language.

Regularly Check for Language Updates

Google is known to release updates to its languages in Google Translate, so if you plan on keeping certain languages stored in your downloads over the long run, it's a good idea to check your language downloads (Settings > Offline translation) and look for updates that may be available. Simply tap the update for the corresponding language and follow the steps to get the latest version.